Door lock and key



GODFRIED M. ZAHM, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

Doon LocK AND KEY.

Specification ofLetters Patent No. 2,638, dated May 26, 1842.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GODFRIED M. ZAHM, of the city of Lancaster, in thecounty of Lancaster and St-ate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement on the Door-Lock, Called Zahms Improved Door-Lock;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exactdescription, to wit.

A bo-X A, is made of brass or sheet iron, in the common form of makingdoor locks, and of the size necessary for the purpose wanted; the boltB, shoots `out above the middle of the end leaving room for a latchabove, and for the key, and its fixtures below; on the upper side a dogc, is fixed, which falls into two-small square notches on the side ofthe bolt, the one to hold it when locked, and the other when unlocked;this dog is pressed down by a spring D, on the upper side, and has aprojection E, from the dog down to the key for the purpose of removingthe dog in the act of locking, or unlocking. The key is made, the stemof which is cut crosswise, in about two equal parts; the end of thepiece with the bow, is spliced into the other part as at F. The end G,which enters the lock, is split so as to admit a loose bit H, to be putin. A small bolt I, is put through the key and through this bitpermitting it to turn easy on that bolt. At the back end, and side nextthe bow of this bit a small link, or rod of metal K, is let into thebit, which also works on a bolt In, andextends up a groove in the backpart of the key, the end of it itting into a notch L, in the lower endof the first described part of the key, so that when you stretch the keyby the joint between the two parts, the bit is thrown out at rightangles'from the stem of the key, and when you push the two partstogether again, the bit is thrown lengthwise up into the stem of thekey, in the groove M, on the front of the key. A small pin is putthrough the spliced part of the bow section of the key, as at t,projecting a little out on both sides, which slides up and down in thenotch r, in the other sect-ion of the key, and

serves as a stop in drawing apart or pushing together the two sectionsof thekey. A tube N, is made to fit over this key, and is fastened by ascrew nail a, to the section containing the bit. When the key is putinto the lock, by drawing this tube from the bow of the key about onefourth of an inch as at o, the bit is thrown out of the groove or splitat the lowerend, and by turning the key you lock, or unlock. The keyhole is a perfect cylinder p, with a small cut or notch Q, in one sideto admit the passage of the head of the screw nail u; the head of thisscrew, serves for a guide to the key when entering the lock; thisentrance for the key, or cylinder has another cut or opening near thelower end, out through which the key bit passes. The key can at no timebe turned more than half way around in the operation of locking orunlocking so that the bit is thrown out, or drawn up, on opposite sides.The key is prevented from turning more than half way around by a smallstop V, fastened in the under part of the bridge It, which supports thecylinder, and by two pins c, c, fastened nearly opposite each other onthe Cylinder, immediately under the bridge R, which strike against thestop fastened in the bridge, in the act of locking or unlocking. Underthe aforementioned bridge, and fastened to it is a small bridge S, underwhich the bit of the key enters; the space under this bridge is dividedinto two parts by plate X, by means of a split down its center; one halfof thebit works on one side of this plate, and the other half on theother. The one moves the dog, and the other the bolt.

No. 1, is the lock; No. 2, plate covering the lock; No. 8, the key; No.t, four sections of the key; No. 5, side sections of the bridges,cylinder, &c.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl.The combination of the jointed key bit with the piece of metal or linkK, and the divided stem of the key as described, and these, thuscombined.

2. I claim also in combination with the tube N, inclosing them, for thepurpose and in the manner described.

j 3. I also claim the key constructed as herein described with the keyhole cylinder as described.

G. M, vZAHMv Witnesses:

SAML. DALE, LEAH L, DALE.

